Dust cap for tire valves or the like



April 1, 1924.

w. T. HUNTER. JR DUST CAP FOR TIRE VALVES OR THE LIKE Oziginal Filed Dec. 17, 1914 INVENTOR ITNESSES g Patented Apr. 1, 1924.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM 'r. HUNTER, Jun or, or woonnnvnu, new

eas es l m an A- scnnnnnna s sonincoaron TED, OF Baooxnvu,'nnw roan, a cortrona r-Ioia or new YORK.

DUST CA]? FOR TIRE VALVES OR THE LIKE.

Application filed T all'whom it may concern:

Be it known that. I, WILLIAM T. HUNTER, Junior, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing in \Voodhaven, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dust Caps for Tire Valves or the like, of which the following isa specification. V

This invention relates to dust caps for tire valves or the like.

The usual form of tire valve is adapted to project through the wheel felloe to a greater or less degree, depending upon the thickness of the felloe. The standard form of dust cap hence may be found to be too short in a given case, or it may be unnecessarily long. According to the present invention I provide a dust cap which is capable of extension and contraction, so that it may be elongated or shortened to fitthe projecting portion of the valve. In the preferred construction the cap is made of a plurality of members which, telescope one within the other, so that shortening and elongation may be accomplished by mere adjustment of the outer shell. The invention includes certain other features which will be hereinafter more fully described.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 shows one embodiment of the invention in diametrical section.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the parts de tached.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a diametrical section of another form of the invention in which the parts ar inseparably connected.

Referring to the drawings, let A indicate a wheel felloe through which passes the valve 13, the projecting end of which extends inwardly of the felloe. O is the improved dust cap, which, as shown, com- 45 prises a foot section D, and an end section E. The foot section D may be screwthreaded as shown at-F to engage the valve,

or may be adapted to engage any other part to hold it in place. In the construction 59 shown a washer G is swivelled to the foot of the cap, which washer may contain a packing such as H.

In the preferred form the end section E is imperforate at its outer end and is adapt- December 17, 1914, Serial No. 877,709. Renewed July 14, 1921.

Serial No. 484,820.

ed to telescope with the foot section D. As shown the end section is of slightly less diameter than the foot section and enters the upper portion of the latter.

The parts preferably move with considerable friction so that the end section will maintain its position without fastening devices. I prefer, however,'to construct one of the parts with a series of spring arms, and in order to preserve the appearance of the device such arms are preferably formed on the inner member. They are shown as formed by slitting the lower end of the end member E at various points as shown at J, and if desired small protuberances may be formed in the arms as shown at K, which press outwardly into engagement with the outer member.

While the general shape of the cap may be round, hexagonal, or other form, it is preferred that some shape be adopted which will not permit of relative rotation of the parts. In the construction shown a series of ribs L are formed on the cap, the ribs on the inner member being adapted toenter into the recesses or channelsleft in the formation of' the ribs on the outer member. These ribs not only prevent rotation, but act to stiffen the connection, so that a great degree of rigidity is imparted to it.

The provision of a non-rotative connec tion between the parts is of considerable importance, since it enables the dust cap to be grasped by its the valve stem, tion of the cap.

The parts may if desired be prevented entirely from separation, and in Fig. i is illustrated one method of accomplishing this result. In this figure the outer member I) is formed with an inturned flange M, while the inner member E is formed with an out turned flange N. These flanges need not extend completely around the members, but may consist of a number of projecting parts if desired.

In the use of the device the cap will be adjusted in length to suit the projecting portion of the tire valve. If such portion is unduly extended so that it reaches a considerable distance from the rim, difficulty may sometimes be encountered in applying a cap thus facilitating the applicaof sufficient length because there 1s insufficient room between the wheel hub and the outer end and screwed upon I tion the cap also end of the valve. With the present invention the cap can be contracted to its shortest dimensions when it is first applied and eX- panded as the foot is screwed home. Or in the case of the separable construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3 the foot portion can be first applied, and the end portion afterwards slid into place. In the last-named construchas the advantage that it is in effect a quickly detachable cap, inasmuch as the end section can be easily removed when it is desired to inflate or deflate the tire, or inspect the valve, the foot section remaining in place. By this means it is unnecessary to. unscrew the foot section or pro vide any quickly detachable means between the foot section and the valve.

While the invention has been described with reference to a dust cap, it may be used in connection with other analogous devices.

While I have shown and described several forms of the invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

'What I claim is 1. A dust cap comprising a plurality of telescopically connected parts extensible to vary the length of the cap, all of said'parts having means for preventing relative rotation.

2. A dust cap comprising a plurality of telescopically connected parts, said parts be ing formed with coacting longitudinal ribs.

3. A dust cap comprising a plurality of telescopically connected parts extensible to vary the length of the cap, all or said parts having means for preventing relative rotation, and being separable one from the other.

4. A tire valve cap having two parts, one of which is provided with an internal thread adapted to engage a thread of a valve stem and the other of said parts being adjustable lengthwise of the stem with regard to the first to assume diiferent relative positions with regard to the first, in any of which positions the cap may be secured to the stem by screwing it along the threads of the, latter, said parts being provided with a nonrotative connection wherebywhen theunthreaded part is rotated the threaded part is caused to rotate with it.

5. A dust cap for the valves or the like comprising a plurality of telescopically connected parts formed with a plurality of faces for preventing their relative rotation and means on one of said parts for engaging a valve stem or the like to hold the cap thereon.

6. A dust cap for tire valves or the like,

comprising a plurality of telescopically con nected parts having means for preventing their relative rotation and spring means for holding said parts in any adjusted telescopic position.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

I WILLIAM T. HUNTER, JUNIOR.

Witnesses:

E. MYERS, FRED WHITE.

It is hereby certified that the name of the assignee in Letters Patent No. 1,488,924, granted April 1, 1924:, upon the application of \Villiam T. Hunter, jr., of VVoodhaven, New York for an improvement in Dust Caps for Tire Valves or the Like, should have been Written and printed as A. Sciu'aders Son instead? of A. Schraeders Son, as shown by the records of assignment in this office; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oifice.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of May, A. D. 1924.

[SEAL] KARL FEN N IN G,

Acting Uowmz'ssz'oner of Patents. 

